mcjeff215

...and you pick that stuff up fast. I spent a couple months out in Melbourne a few years back. Two weeks into it I was parking in the "car park" when we went to "tea." The first day I was there I was helping a friend of mine feed horses. I looked down the ranch a bit and saw about 30 'roos hopping around. It took a few minutes to register. Those damn things spooked the horse I was on about two weeks later and I took a nice tumble. But... the one thing I miss the most... Dim Sims. I haven't had one of those damn things since I got back. I lived on those unhealthy fried chunks of love. I haven't found them stateside at all. Ok. Hijack complete. Back to your regularly scheduled topic. -Jeff

Yeah I went a couple weeks ago and MISSED. *MISSED* I *never* miss!!! High at about 200 yards. I knew it the second I pulled the trigger. Big freakin' doe, too. Hopefully I get out again this year.

I'm so completely sick of hearing about Drew. Screw Drew. About the only thing that matters is that our team is 4-182, and his team is 7-3. Check out our team, it really doesn't matter who is under center or whether the "Drew decision" was right. Time to stop second guessing.

Any of our guys stand up to the podium after the game? Or have they all been quiet? I'd like to hear what they've got to say.

Yeah, me two. Whops.

I agree. I've had it with the constant loosing. This team has been 'just good enough' to let us retain a bit of hope, but never good enough to do anything above mediocrity.

Damn it! Mine just Josh Reed' all over the floor. But, if I'm lucky, my wife will Mike Williams me later!

Yeah this is about done. Now we've gotta win to play catch up.

Right, but it certainly shouldn't be a mandated thing. It's a Good Thing To Do that ought to be treated as a benefit that financially stable companies can offer in order to attract capable workers. It should by no means be a requirement. I understand the other side. Lots of these folks are people that got into the game with pensions and union labor being the norm. You know the type. Get out of high school in June and step into a Ford plant three months later. I'm 100% Buffalo; both of my grandfathers and every last one of my uncles did that. I feel bad for that crowd in that the entire system was shaken up mid-stream for them. Hell, I've been smacked by it, thus the reason I live down South where the economy is better. My father is reaching retirement age without much of a retirement fund because he had the pension plan going for him before his shop closed the doors. That type of business just can't compete with the rest of the world, unfortunately. I won't be happy until I *have* a golden parachunte! -Jeff

That I don't know, but I'll hazard a few guesses. 1. Union backlash. You know, the whole "held hostage" thing. Delta has been talking about making some serious changes and whatnot now that they've filed bankruptcy. Things that probably should have been done years ago to avert bankruptcy altogether. 2. Quality. AFAIK, you're right. American quality has always been better. Of course, as the processes become computer controlled, I'd think the quality would "even out" and the source would become less important. From a cost perspective, the lower labor costs offset the shipping and import costs. 3. True commitment to "the American worker." This is probably some of it, actually. I respect this, but in my opinion it simply prolongs the inevitable. 4. Damn Saints. C'mon. Can't we get some freakin' help here? My father has made comments about how it's ridiculous that some companies can employ you for 20 years and not provide a pension plan. That type of thing should be "illegal" and all that. It's thinking in the past is what it is. -Jeff

Man, Brady always has a week to contemplate which receiver he'd like to toss the ball to when the opportunity presents itself, and that's after the snap and ensuing drop.

My father is a machinist by trade. He did his apprenticeship prior to his 100% U.S. government funded vacation to Vietnam for a couple years back in the last 60's. I grew up on a skilled tradesman's hourly wage. My answer is probably a bit biased, but yes, I believe think wages ought to be on par as long as there is equal demand for the service provided. It's all about the demand for the labor, though.

I don't really believe it's a good thing, but that's a complicated question. The answer is probably bound to how quickly we hit that equilibrium. I'd love it all to stay here and continue to employ thousands of factory workers. Irritation stems from the fact that demanding wages in that range sn't going to help keep that stuff around, yet the goal of the union is to protect the worker. -Jeff

Certainly some of it is technology/skill based. Of course there are engineers and skilled professionals behind the design, testing, and specification of any type of mass-produced component. "Lattie Slusher, president of UAW Local 913 at a Delphi factory in Sandusky, Ohio, said the plant makes wheel spindle bearings for GM cars and trucks that can't be purchased anywhere else. The union should demand $50 or $60 in base wages, since that's the way the capitalist system works, he said." He's not saying they should offer the engineers behind the product a competitive salary for their highly trained services. He's saying they should be demanding $50 - $60 base pay for factory assemblers at a plant in Sandusky, Ohio. That's $124,000 a year straight time. For assembling bearings. Screw my fancy college education, I'm going to go assemble bearings. Does it make sense for GM to pay that embedded price in every bearing they buy?

Exactly. The bearing is the important component, not the hourly assembly line crew putting them together. Given schematics and machinery any line could put those components together. ...and these types of shops will continue to move into the not-so-unionized South and rust belt residents will continue to blame the evil corporations for taking all of "their" jobs and tax rates will continue to go up as the tax base erodes and people will demand higher wages to combat the increasing cost of living and these types of shops will continue to move into the.... -Jeff

Haven't these guys taken "Introduction to Economics?" I just don't understand how educated people can preach this crap.

This stuff just can't get much better. http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051119/1064758.asp "Lattie Slusher, president of UAW Local 913 at a Delphi factory in Sandusky, Ohio, said the plant makes wheel spindle bearings for GM cars and trucks that can't be purchased anywhere else. The union should demand $50 or $60 in base wages, since that's the way the capitalist system works, he said. "We're not going to make those bearings for Delphi or anybody else at $12.50 an hour," Slusher said." What they fail to realize is that they are not providing a unique service. They are following company owned processes while operating company owned machinery to produce components to company specifications. They're not doing anyone any favors by showing up to work in the morning. Right, that is exactly how the capitalist system works. There is also a market for labor, though, and they're pricing themselves right out of existence. No worries. Stand up. Demand your $50 an hour. I'm sure someone in India would be willing to put stuff together following those same procedures for 1/20th the cost. That ought to more than offset shipping them across the planet. You and your union are not entitled to a job or a specific rate. Gah. Sorry. These guys drive me crazy. They act like they fight for the rights of the local worker but in all honesty, they're destroying the area. All crap like this does is prolong the impending death of those positions. /rant off. -Jeff

The best part about it is that it shows that he isn't afraid to hurt an assistant's feelings. If they guy isn't getting the job done, do it for him.

I get 10 of these things a day... just from this morning: FAMILY BUSINESS INVESTMENT OFFER. Dear, In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through a reliable source and the choice of your country I wish to introduce myself, I am Emmanuel Kishali Kabila the son of the late DRC President Laurent Desire Kabila of the blessed memory. I know this letter might come to you as a surprise but I honestly do not intend to surprise you. I write this letter in respect of my intention to invest the sum of US$28M (Twenty- Eight Million United State Dollars) with you. I inherited this money from my mother. This money was got through the smuggling and sales of Diamond and Timber when my father was the head of state. My mother though not her legal wife used her privilege position to engage in the business of Diamond and Timber since she knows that her survival will depend on how much she can get out of the privilege situation. When my father was assassinated on 16TH Jan. 01 by one of his bodyguards Lt.Rashidi Kasereke through the conspiracy of some top army officers that wanted to topple him I escaped to SA because of the fear that I might be arrested by my half brother Lt. General Joseph Kabila the present head of state. Actually his mother and my mother are not in the best of relationship because of who among them will be the first lady tussle and this ultimately affected us their children. Considering the relationship between SA and my country's new government, my mother advised me to leave For SA for security reason, while the funds were deposited with a security Company abroad. On getting to there where I have been living since then as a political refugee I am seeking for a reliable foreigner who can assist me in moving this money out for safe banking and profitable investment. Honestly I contacted you because I don't want to invest this money in here due to my status here as a political Refugee. And moreover I wouldn't want to take risk because this money is all that I and my Mother is depending on because My half brother has seized all my father's assets and money and left I and my mother empty handed without knowing about this funds deposited at the Security Company in abroad so that is why I decided that investing this money abroad should be the best investment for me. I will be honored if I can be given the privilege of investing this money with your help. In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond to this distress call to save my mother and I from a hopeless future. And if you agree, I hereby agree to compensate your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 20% of the total money and annual 5% of the after tax returns on investment for the first three years. Thereafter, the term shall be varied. 5% for expenses, which may arise during the transaction (fax and phone bills inclusive). when the money is moved into your discrete account, you will be allowed to draw 20% in your favor, while the remaining 75% will be invested meaningfully for our future if possible in your area of business and deterrents sectors of the Economy in your country which are dividends yielding. Whatever your decision is please reach me immediately through my Email, and keep this letter tight secret for the interest of my family. Best Regards, Emmanuel Kishali Kabila (for the family) orsefield Oil & Gas Industries introduces the positions of representatives, responsible for the collection of payments from customers and other financial means.This is a perfect opportunity for you to earn more! We market crude oil,natural gas,lubricants and other products into Canada/America,Europe and some parts of Asia. We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting our funds from our customers in Canada/America/Europe as well as making payments through these representatives to us. If this proposal is acceptable to you,forward the following personal information of yours to us on: contact_horsefield@mac.com CONTACT ADDRESS; FULL NAME; PHONE AND FAX NUMBER; AGE AND OCCUPATION; Or contact us for more information.So that an emuneration can be worked out for your services as our representative in Canada/America/Europe as your location shall determine. Compensations and other benefits will be given. We anticipate your earliest response in this regard. Your email has been forwarded by www.monster.co.uk at our request, because you or someone else have subscribed for the delivery of a part time job offers in the internet. If you are not interested,please kindly delete this message. Thanks in Advance, Horsefield Industries Tel: +44-703-194-6838 (8am - 4p:m) Fax:+44-871-247-1037 The first one came in at 1:28 AM, the second one at 5:22 AM.

I didn't know you worked for the government.

Still not quite as good as "All About The Mormons", though. For that one, see www.mrtwig.net.

Speaking of... http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051116/1019804.asp

Holy crap. Did you just *really* say "Earth Time?" (I kid! I kid!)

Yeah, but a Slayer solo is never the same twice. I saw an interview where the commented on how "we don't care if it's in key, it's all about the *power* of the show." So they don't count. =) Friedman does rule. I've been on a 'deth kick since I saw them last summer. That new CD of theirs is pretty damn good. Much better than Risk and The World Needs A Hero. Risk was simply junk. You know, I might just break the guitars back out. I'm one of the few that can read guitar sheet music =) I took lessons on the thing for about four years, at which point I got sick of scales and key signatures. That's when I started figuring out late 80's/early 90's Metal. I think the first song I figured out was "Fade to Black." If I get it back out, my OTHER hobbies will suffer. -Jeff

I used to be quite good on the guitar. Bought a bunch of expensive equipment and played all the time. I've since not played in seven years and probably couldn't bust out AC/DC at 1/3 tempo these days.